Let your mouth speak archive

Gaming companies are taking a close look at the loyalty promoted by their brick-and-mortar casinos, while seeing how the advent of online gaming can also benefit those operations.

With Nevada and New Jersey both legalizing online gaming last year, other states and gambling jurisdictions are now giving it a look.

"We knew how big a market it was when it was a grey area, and now that it's legitimate it can be very big," said Daniel Nita, senior vice president and general manager at Horseshoe Casino.

Large gaming corporations like Caesars Entertainment Corp., which owns Horseshoe, are well positioned to cash in on the newly legitimized market, Nita said.

When it comes to cross-border competition, the gaming industry in Indiana remains encouraged by state legislators' action last session to exempt $5 million per year in free slot play from taxes at each casino, Nita said. That action was taken to level the playing field with some other states, notably Ohio, which offer much more generous exemptions.


GAMING: Online gaming creates casino buzz

Online gambling in Canada is slowly becoming something that players can enjoy but as the Chief Executive Officers of two provincial lottery and gaming corporation have decided it isn’t moving fast enough. Just over a week ago Rod Philips who was head of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, quit his job. Now in British Columbia the head of the BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) Michael Graydon has announced his resignation after almost six years in the position.

The BCLC board of directors has placed the VP of Casino and Community gaming, Jim Lightbody in charge for the time being. It has been suggested that politics has played a role in the exit by both CEO’s what with the slow and sometimes frustrating slowness that the corporations are experiencing regarding vital changes in the gambling scene in the Canadian provincial jurisdictions. Ontario has been promising its punters an online gambling venue for months but nothing has really materialized yet. Online gambling is being modernized in Ontario. The government is doing everything they can to make it more convenient for online gamblers in Ontario to play casino games and enjoy other gambling experiences.

Graydon and Philips both say they have left the government fold to pursue other opportunities in the private sector. The frustration factor may be one of the leading reasons for the executives to leave their government positions. In Graydon’s case it may be the fact that international online sports books and other offerings give Canadians a better deal what with more liquidity in poker and better odds on sports. The coming legal Ontario online gambling site would likely feature only residents of Ontario which means that only Canadians who live in this province will be able to contribute to the jackpots at the online slots. With international gambling online, Ontario residents can compete for bigger jackpots legally. The betting on a single sporting event legislation C-290 is still stalled in the Canadian Senate creating some frustration for administrators.


Online Gambling in Canada and Executive Frustration | Online-Casinos-com

The adopted daughter of Woody Allen, in an open letter posted Saturday on a New York Times blog, recounted her allegation that she was sexually assaulted by the film director. Billed as the first time Dylan Farrow has publicly written about her allegation that she was assaulted in 1992 at age 7, the letter was released the same day as the Writers Guild Awards -- where Allen has been nominated for best screenplay for "Blue Jasmine."

"What's your favorite Woody Allen movie? Before you answer, you should know: when I was seven years old, Woody Allen took me by the hand and led me into a dim, closet-like attic on the second floor of our house," said the letter posted on Times columnist Nicholas Kristof's blog.

"He told me to lay on my stomach and play with my brother's electric train set. Then he sexually assaulted me."

The letter was published as Allen's "Blue Jasmine" has garnered critical acclaim, including three Academy Award nominations, best original screenplay.

Allen's representatives did not respond Saturday to a CNN request for comment.

In 1992, in the wake of an affair between Allen and Soon-Yi Previn -- Mia Farrow's adopted daughter with composer Andre Previn -- Farrow accused the filmmaker of molesting Dylan. About a week later, Allen filed for custody of his three children with Farrow -- Moses and Dylan, who were adopted, and Satchel, their biological son, who now goes by Ronan Farrow.

"A team of investigators from Yale-New Haven Hospital that was retained by the Connecticut State Police subsequently concluded Dylan had not been abused," according to an account in the Times, which covered the custody proceedings. Acting Justice Elliott Wilk of State Supreme Court "said it was unlikely that Mr. Allen could be prosecuted for sexual abuse based on the evidence," the newspaper reported. "But while a team of experts concluded that Dylan was not abused, the judge said he found the evidence inconclusive."

But the scandal permanently damaged Allen's image -- that of a neurotic but amusing schlub with a talent for slapstick and witty one-liners. He denied the Dylan accusations and said his relationship with Farrow, which had been painted storybook colors by the press, was not actually all that strong.

He did marry Soon-Yi Previn in 1997, and after the marriage came a slightly more public Woody Allen. The couple were the focus of a 1997 Barbara Kopple documentary, "Wild Man Blues," which portrayed a generally happy pair. Allen was also the subject of a 2011 Robert Weide film, "Woody Allen: A Documentary," which briskly addressed Farrow's allegations from Allen's point of view.

However, the scandal has always been near the surface, and the open letter in The New York Times is one of number of instances in recent months where the allegation has been raised.

In a November Vanity Fair article, Allen was condemned by Mia Farrow's children, especially Dylan.

Last month, as Allen was honored with a lifetime achievement award during the Golden Globes, Ronan Farrow, now estranged from his father, took to Twitter and referenced the allegation: "Missed the Woody Allen tribute -- did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?"

And now comes the open letter, where Dylan Farrow recounts not only the alleged abuse, but what she says happened to her in the aftermath.

"Woody Allen was never convicted of any crime. That he got away with what he did to me haunted me as I grew up," she wrote. "I was stricken with guilt that I had allowed him to be near other little girls. I was terrified of being touched by men. I developed an eating disorder. I began cutting myself."

She also admonished some of Hollywood's most celebrated, mostly women, by name for "turning a blind eye" and for continuing to work with Allen.

CNN reached out to the stars that Dylan Farrow challenged by name in her letter -- but has not yet heard back.


Woody Allen accused of '92 assault | Entertainment - Home

India is one of the BRIC countries that are emerging as economical superpowers. The legal online gambling industry has jet to penetrate Brazil, Russia, India, and China to any extent but the underground online gambling industry certainly has. We hear of big busts of illegal online gambling in the Asian jurisdictions we hear of gambling being prohibited in Russia not much from Brazil except it is not a legal past time there even with the FIFA World Cup underway. In India there are laws but not much enforcement with cricket being fixed constantly and illegal gambling running rampant.

Governments of all of these countries are doing their best to keep its population honest by educating them of the rules regarding internet wagering. India has no dedicated online gambling laws yet online gambling is regulated to a great extent by provisions of Information Technology Act, 2000. India is somewhere where the people love to play and bet on games of chance and sporting events. The rules regarding online betting are less clear for the general population who continue to access offshore betting sites and local set ups.

Web sites in India that offer online poker are considered legal and sometimes illegal depending on the compliance level of the web domain. Confusion reigns in this jurisdiction as well as in others. The policing of the compliance for poker rooms in India are suspect and any new legal poker start ups are scrutinized closely by authorities.

Lawmakers in jurisdictions such as India are not up to speed when it comes to the internet wagering industry and its complex nature. A new approach should include regulatory platforms and a licensing commission. The problem is not in creating the environment for regulated poker and other forms of online betting but in the enforcement of the laws.


Online Gambling In India Reform Required | Online-Casinos-com

Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest day of the year for gambling in Canada and the United States -- more than $100 million is expected to be bet legally in Las Vegas alone.

More than 100 million people will tune in to the Fox broadcast. They will be certain to discuss the $4 million-for-30-seconds TV ads, the Bruno Mars and Red Hot Chili Peppers' halftime show and, of course, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos on their smartphone or tablet via social media.

At the British Columbia Lottery Corporation's second annual responsible gambling convention last week, delegates heard how the two worlds are colliding. Research from a prominent Wall Street investment house suggests that converting social gamers into online gamblers is the key growth opportunity for the industry.

But a leading Canadian gambling addiction researcher is concerned that there will be casualties in the rush to migrate Facebook users, particularly the young and social media savvy, to digital bookies.

"There is a growing convergence between traditional gambling (real money casinos), online gambling (real money online casinos) and social gaming (virtual games played predominantly through Facebook)," said a Nov. 14, 2012 Morgan Stanley Blue Paper. "Social gaming companies such as Zynga are increasingly expanding into social gambling games, with poker and slot machines consistently ranking among the most popular. Similarly, online gambling operators such as bwin.party are expanding into social gambling."

Morgan Stanley estimated 170 million people play social gaming apps -- triple the number of people who gamble for real money online. At $1.7 billion, social gaming is worth a fraction of the estimated $35-billion online gambling industry, which relies heavily on revenue from sports and casino games.

At the Vancouver convention last week, Dr. Michael Wohl, an associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, presented findings from an ongoing project investigating whether social gamers are moving to online gambling, and why.

"The two things that predicted whether or not people transferred from social gaming to online gambling were, number one, whether or not they were willing to pay for credits in the social games, and the amount of time that they spent on playing social games," Wohl said.

"When we had the focus groups we had people saying that, when they bought credits, 'This is real stupid, I'm spending $20 to buy fake money and I can never win this money back.'"

Those respondents said they would rather spend $20 on nickel slots with the possibility of winning the money back.

Wohl added some participants realized they made the switch too quickly. He said one participant commented that they "didn't understand how I got from one place to another, from fun to in-trouble." Another reported that despite going from Facebook to an online gambling site, "You still have the feeling of playing with fake money."

Vancouver: Digital Vegas

Vancouver has played an important role in the development of the social gaming and online gambling world.

Don Mattrick was a teenager in Burnaby when he created what eventually became sports video gaming juggernaut Electronic Arts Canada in 1991. Microsoft hired Mattrick in 2007 to turn around its Xbox console. Last year, he was lured to social gaming provider Zynga. Known for the FarmVille game app, Zynga reported 30 million daily active users and counted $203 million in revenue during 2013's third quarter -- $174 million was from the games and $28 million from advertising sales.

Online poker and sports gambling company Bodog also began in Vancouver, in 1994. Founder Calvin Ayre boasted of his wealth in Forbes Magazine's billionaires issue in 2006, but he is now considered a fugitive by the United States government. Ayre is wanted by law enforcement after being charged in 2012 in Maryland for money laundering and operating an illegal gambling business. On Nov. 21, 2013, police raided Bodog's Asia office in the Philippines. The company denied it was allowing the country's residents to bet on its website. Budweiser sponsored a Commodore Ballroom Super Bowl party in Vancouver last year. Bodog, which takes bets on its play-with-real-money dot-com site, heavily advertises its free play dot-net website on Canadian sports websites, TV channels and radio stations. This year the Bodog brand will be front-and-centre. The Canadian Criminal Code permits only provincial governments to operate, licence and regulate gambling.

While B.C. Lottery Corporation is the province's Crown monopoly, fellow Crown corporation B.C. Pavilion Corporation allowed Bodog to advertise on B.C. Place Stadium's external video screens last fall. Documents obtained via Freedom of Information show PavCo referred a Tyee media inquiry to Telus, owner of the videoscreens. In turn, Telus sought the opinion of a Pattison Outdoor Advertising executive, who explained his company's contract with Bodog at B.C. Place.

"The company is a legal entity and the [dot-net] is not promoting gambling through their current ad," wrote operations vice-president Steve McGregor. "Prior to running the current Bodog advertisement, Pattison Outdoor completed an in-depth review of the ad and the website to ensure the site was not a gambling site (paid gambling)."

"I'd like to see the government crack down on the grey area businesses who operate under the disguise of dot-net," said Jake Kalpakian, founder of Vancouver-based Las Vegas From Home, in a 2012 interview. "It's just a ridiculous game that people play dot-net, but are being pushed into a dot-com site."

Kalpakian's company launched its own social gaming product, the free-to-play Real Vegas app on Facebook, during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs.

'Can games teach responsible gambling?'

Dublin-headquartered Paddy Power is the company behind the B.C. Lottery Corporation's PlayNow poker and sports gambling website.

Paddy Power made its

Philip Seymour Hoffman has been found dead in his Greenwich Village apartment with what law enforcement officials said was a syringe in his arm. He was 46.

Glassine envelopes containing what was believed to be heroin were also found with Hoffman, the officials said. Those items are being tested.

The law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak about evidence found at the scene, said the cause of death was believed to be a drug overdose. Hoffman - no matinee-idol figure with his tubby, lumpy build and limp blond hair - made his career mostly as a character actor, and was one of the most prolific in the business.

He won the Oscar for best actor in 2006 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote in Capote and created a gallery of other vivid characters, many of them slovenly and slightly dissipated comic figures.

The stage-trained actor's rumpled naturalism made him one of the most admired performers of his generation. He was nominated for Academy Awards four times in all.

Hoffman spoke candidly over the years about past struggles with drug addiction. After 23 years sober, he admitted in interviews last year to falling off the wagon and developing a heroin problem that led to a stint at a rehabilitation facility.

Tributes poured in from Hollywood figures.

"One of the greatest actors of a generation and a sweet, funny & humble man," actor Ricky Gervais tweeted. Director Spike Lee said on Twitter: "Damn, We Lost Another Great Artist."

And Kevin Costner said: "Philip was a very important actor and really takes his place among the real great actors. It's a shame. Who knows what he would have been able to do? But we're left with the legacy of the work he's done and it all speaks for itself."

"No words for this. He was too great and we're too shattered," said Mike Nichols, who directed Hoffman in Charlie Wilson's War and Death of a Salesman.

The law enforcement officials said Hoffman's body was discovered in a bathroom at his Greenwich Village apartment by a friend - who made the 911 call - and his assistant.

A police crime-scene van was parked out front, and technicians carrying brown paper bags went in and out. Police kept a growing crowd of onlookers back. A single red daisy had been placed in front of the lobby door.

Hoffman's family called the news of his death "tragic and sudden.

"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone," Hoffman's family said in a statement.

The Huffington Post reported Hoffman sought help for heroin addiction, including a stint in rehab, in May last year.

Hoffman, 46, was most recently seen in the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire, and was reportedly filming part four, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, at the time of his death.

He has also appeared in Magnolia, Mission: Impossible III, Boogie Nights, The Boat that Rocked, The Master and Moneyball.

Just a month ago, Hoffman was the victim of a death hoax.

Hoffman had struggled with substance abuse in his early career, and first went to rehab after graduating from New York University in 1989.

Speaking about his struggle he told The Guardian newspaper in 2011: "It was pretty bad, you know what I mean. And I know, deep down, I still look at the idea of drinking with the same ferocity that I did back then. It's still pretty tangible.

"I don't know, I was young, I drank too much, you know, so I stopped. It's not really complicated. I had no interest in drinking in moderation. And I still don't. Just because all that time's passed doesn't mean maybe it was just a phase.

"That's you know, that's who I am."

PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN: LIFE AND TIMES

In one of his earliest roles, he played a spoiled prep school student in Scent of a Woman in 1992. One of his breakthrough roles came as a gay member of a porno film crew in Boogie Nights, one of several movies directed by Paul Thomas Anderson that he would eventually appear in.

He often played comic, slightly off-kilter characters in movies like Along Came Polly, The Big Lebowski and Almost Famous.

More recently, he was Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and was reprising that role in the two-part sequel, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, which is in the works. And in Moneyball, he played Art Howe, the grumpy manager of the Oakland Athletics who resisted new thinking about baseball talent.

Just weeks ago, Showtime announced Hoffman would star in Happyish, a new comedy series about a middle-aged man's pursuit of happiness.

In The Master, he was nominated for the 2013 Academy Award for best supporting actor for his role as the charismatic leader of a religious movement. The film, partly inspired by the life of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, reunited the actor with Anderson.

He also received a 2009 supporting nomination for Doubt, as a priest who comes under suspicion because of his relationship with a boy, and a best supporting actor nomination for Charlie Wilson's War, as a CIA officer.

Born in 1967 in Fairport, NY, Hoffman was interested in acting from an early age, mesmerized at 12 by a local production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. He studied theater as a teenager with the New York State Summer School of the Arts and the Circle in the Square Theatre. He then majored in drama at New York University.

In his Oscar acceptance speech for Capote, he thanked his mother for raising him and and his three siblings alone, and for taking him to his first play. Hoffman's parents divorced when he was 9.

With a versatility and discipline more common among British performers than Americans, he could seemingly take on any role, large or small, loathsome or sympathetic.

On Broadway, he took on ambitious roles like Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, Jamie in Long Day's Journey Into Night and both leads in True West. All three performan

In November, New Jersey began allowing online gambling. More than 150,000 gambling accounts have been established, according to AP.

"The public’s attitude was, for several years, warming up to online gambling," said Krista Jenkins, a political science professor who directed the poll. "But there has been a clear change in direction now that the practice has actually been legalized." One year ago, 41 percent favored online gambling.

Fairleigh Dickenson's press release suggested heavy marketing by online gambling companies may have led to the bump in intolerance among those surveyed.

The poll was conducted by calling residents on their landlines and cellphones during a six-day period last month. A total of 734 participated, and the poll has a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

As for medical marijuana, 86 percent of New Jersey residents favored it in a 2011 Rutgers-Eagleton poll. And, at the same time 60 percent approved decriminalizing the drug, a 20 percent increase as compared to a 1972 poll.

A few weeks ago, state Sen. Nick Scutari, a sponsor of the state's medical marijuana law, said he would begin lobbying his colleagues to support a bill to legalize pot. He said he hopes to introduce it in the next few weeks.



Read more at New Jerseyans prefer legalizing pot to online gambling

A new bill in the New Jersey legislature calls for a massive expansion of the existing real-money online gambling in the state, which kicked off late last year.

Senate bill No. 980 would “authorize permits for certain New Jersey casinos for interstate and foreign Internet wagering.” In other words, those who have been approved for intrastate online gambling could elect to expand their offerings, under specific conditions.

The bill must pass the Senate and General Assembly, and then be signed by the governor. Chris Christie has a lot on his plate at the moment due to a scandal, but he is a big supporter of online gambling in the Garden State. It is reasonable to expect him to sign.

Right now, it is sitting with the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee. It’s unclear when a vote will be held on the proposal.

According to the bill, there would be an annual tax on interstate or foreign Internet wagering gross revenues in the amount of 15 percent. That money would go to the New Jersey Casino Revenue Fund. In addition, the companies offering games from New Jersey to other jurisdictions must comply with the tax laws and regulations in the other jurisdiction.

All of this would require a partner jurisdiction to have legal web gambling as well.

The legislation would call for New Jersey gaming regulators (The Division of Gaming Enforcement) to draft rules overseeing the expansion of Internet gambling.

All casinos licensees permitted to conduct interstate or foreign Internet wagering must have their servers within Atlantic City. Regulators want to be able to inspect them.

The bill does not mean that online poker players in New Jersey could be playing against players from other countries. In other words, no combined player pools leading to bigger tournaments and more cash game action on a specific site. Ray Lesniak, the sponsor of the bill, told Card Player late last year that “right now, federal law would preclude international players playing online against New Jersey players.”

The bill appears designed for casino firms and their technology partners.

Lesniak wants to make New Jersey the “mecca of Internet gaming.” In other words, a hub that is attractive for firms across the globe. The idea is to get more investment into Atlantic City, which has seen gaming revenues plunge drastically since 2006.

Domestically, just New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalized online gambling. There has been the expectation that the three will eventually partner up. More states are expected to take a look at online poker in 2014. Pennsylvania might have the best chance at getting something done, but it’s possible zero legalize this year.


New Jersey Bill Calls For Internet Gambling Expansion

The online gambling industry in the USA has detractors the biggest of which in Sheldon Adelson owner of the Las Vegas Sands casino and resort. Now there may be another billionaire Steve Wynn who thinks that online gambling may not be a great idea. His company has recently been approved to conduct Internet gambling in New Jersey, but casino owner isn't quite sure if he'll actually activate it.

The Division of Gaming Enforcement in New Jersey has granted Wynn Interactive to conduct online gambling with its partner Caesars Interactive. Wynn said that the company will put its internet business on hold while they study the online gambling market more closely. The Division of Gaming Enforcement also granted a request by Wynn and Caesars Interactive to conduct Internet gambling operations with the All American Poker Network and 888 Atlantic Limited. According to a report in Forbes Wynn said “This is not a good entrepreneurial opportunity,” Wynn said to well respected journalist Jon Ralston,” “Where is the business opportunity? The big problem I see is I don’t see the government letting us keep the money.”

The anti online gambling lobby just got much bigger with two of the gambling industry’s wealthiest owners looking closely at the internet gambling industry and its future in America. The two companies they own and operate, are the largest U.S. casino companies in terms of market capitalization and neither of them are participating in the quest for regulated online gambling in the States.

Wynn at one time was all for the idea of regulated online gambling in America but has done an about face and in light of the change will become another opponent that the lobby groups for internet wagering are working on. Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, , have been actively pushing for online gambling with the American Gaming Association, to secure legal online gambling for American players.


Another Opponent Of US Online Gambling Surfaces | Online-Casinos-com

If the Super Bowl underperformed in terms of good-game expectations (poor Peyton), New Girl totally made up for it by exceeding the whole world's expectations for what Prince's guest appearance might constitute. Admit it: You, like me, were expecting Prince to waltz past Nick and Jess, dropping one wise gem as he went by. We would've been fine with it.

I never dreamt that we'd get to watch Prince lead Jess, by the hand and awesome bejeweled headpiece, straight to her first "I love you" with Nick. I never DARED to dream we'd get a DRESS-UP MONTAGE, for the love of all that is holy.

How badly can 2014 possibly go now that we've seen that?

My favorite thing about the way the show used Prince was how they played with his mystique, filling in such vital information as: Prince is terrible at Frisbee. ("There's like 10 of these things up here.") Prince is good at ping-pong, but not as good as Cece. Prince has pure black coffee cups in his kitchen, and he makes you finish your pancake.

We got so much giddy humor from this episode, and still there was time for a major relationship step forward (Nick and Jess's ILY), for some fun-dercutting of Schmidt's hangups (we're all happy when he gets taken down a peg), and for more of Coach and Winston playing together as Fire and Ice (I think the show realized after the boys' baking sequence that they'd hit on a winning formula there).

And P.S. I know it's such blatant product placement, but I laughed really hard at the Ford Fusion scene too. Which just goes to show: They couldn't miss in this episode.

Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson’s mission to ban Internet gambling just got a major opponent — a coalition backed by MGM International and other Washington powerhouses.

The newly minted Coalition for Consumer and Online Protection is going up Wednesday with an initial three-week, $250,000 online and print ad buy to campaign against a federal online gambling ban. The ad buy is focused predominately on the Washington, D.C., market, but also will have presence in Nevada.

The coalition has also hired some heavy hitters to help them make their case. Former Rep. Mike Oxley (R-Ohio), who served as Financial Services Committee chairman when the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act of 2006 passed, will be the coalition’s spokesman. Also on board: top Democratic operative Jim Messina; former Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), now of FaegreBD Consulting; and Kristen Hawn of Granite Integrated Strategies.

It also engaged North Star Opinion Research’s Dan Judy and Whit Ayres to do a poll for the coalition at the end of January which found 33 percent of voters “strongly” oppose a ban comparedwith 22 percent “strongly” supporting it. From the 1,000 interviews the pollsters also found that 74 percent of voters prefer the state-by-state legalization approach compared to a nationwide ban.

The effort is in response to top Republican donor Adelson’s pledge late last year to use his fortune to lobby Congress to ban online gaming, arguing that it’s not good for society and could hurt casinos’ traditional business model.

This is Adelson’s most public foray into pushing a legislative agenda in Washington and could be a test case for how far prolific political contributions get donors lobbying on pet projects.

Adelson, owner of Las Vegas Sands, formed the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling in January and has gotten some early traction with a number of state attorneys co-signing a letter to congressional leaders and House and Senate Judiciary panel members to keep online gaming illegal.

More recently, Adelson’s top political operative told Ralston Reports they planned to go “state by state” to block legalization.

Steve Wynn of Wynn Resorts also publicly changed his position recently on Internet gambling, arguing that it wasn’t good “entrepreneurial opportunity.” Wynn has not publicly teamed up with Adelson.

An Adelson spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

It’s a dramatic change of course for proponents of legalizing online gambling. In recent years, the congressional action on Internet gaming has been focused on potential legalization with powerful allies like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) trying to cut a deal. And advocates of legalization have had some victories at the state level. New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware have legalized Internet gambling, and New York may also consider similar action.

MGM’s Alan Feldman said it’s important for opponents of the ban to get vocal, especially in light of Adelson’s decision to use his financial largesse to fund the issue.

“He is using that, and he is going to use that, and we have to argue the facts on our side,” Feldman said. “He’s not making a secret of his positions. We shouldn’t be secretive about ours.”

Nearly the entire industry is opposed to Adelson’s suggested ban, including traditional brick-and-mortar casinos and the American Gaming Association.

Feldman declined to comment on the budget for the coalition.

“I think we have the best resource. We have the facts,” Feldman said. “He’s playing on people’s fears, he’s making all kinds of claims and making all kinds of accusations that simply aren’t true, so we’re going to stick to the facts and hope that the facts might win out.”

Bono said that trying to stop Internet gambling is impossible.

“I try to compare it to the similarities we witnessed the film and television and music industries go through,” Bono said. “I think the lessons we’ve learned now is it’s impossible to stand in the way of the Internet and it’s best to embrace it and try to shape it.”

The Poker Players Alliance, a veteran in the online gaming lobbying wars, is also lending its support to the coalition. The group’s Executive Director John Pappas said PPA will leverage its grass-roots network to continue to put out the message that prohibition is unsustainable.

“The concern is that a lot of money can buy you traction, and Adelson has a lot of money,” Pappas said. “They are trying to deliver a message that misrepresents the issue, and for those of us who have been following this issue for a long time, we see through the blatant hypocrisy and misrepresentation. The average American may not be familiar with this issue at all and can be taken by some of the PR push that they are making.”

Read more: Group takes on Adelson on Internet gambling - Anna Palmer - POLITICO-com

The number of states allowing online gambling in the U.S now stands at three, following the addition of New Jersey. Initially it was Delaware and Nevada. New Jersey's first virtual casinos went live late November last year, and reports now indicate that State Senator Raymond Lesniak is plotting to attract foreign companies to join local based players in the online gambling market. On the other hand, Caesars (CZR) CEO, Gary Loveman says the company is pushing for federal legislation that will legalize virtual casinos in every state.

International Game Technology (IGT) has expressed its excitement on the current developments in online gaming in the U.S. The company designs, develops and manufactures gaming systems and platforms for both casino slot machines, and online content for placing bets in partnership with the various gaming companies. The looming growth in the online gaming market in the U.S presents an interesting opportunity for the company, which could play a major role in its growth strategy.

The thought of having more foreign online gambling companies setting shop in the U.S means more business for the Media & Graphics software company. On the other hand, as more states embrace online gambling, this also creates an opportunity for new entrants in the market. It is cheaper to set up and run a successful online gambling company than introducing slot machines in a market already dominated by veteran players.

The Opportunity

New Jersey is the third state to legalize online gambling in the U.S. The State's leading gaming city, the Atlantic City has seen about 40% decline in casino revenues since the 2006 peak. The State approved a list of companies to practice online gambling with its boundaries recently, setting itself up for a potential recovery over the next few years. According to reports, New Jersey aims to become the online gambling capital of the world, as its Senator pushes to attract more foreign companies to the State.

According to the approval list, it is clear that several companies could find themselves eligible to conduct online gaming business in the U.S. A good number of these are already involved in other businesses including land-based casinos and telecommunications. For them it will be a matter of expanding their current business, which gives them a head start ahead of the new entrants.

Some of them like Caesars and 888 Holdings, and Borgata & bwin.party have already received transactional waivers, while Paddy Power and Betable among others are deemed eligible for transactional waiver. These incentives should make it easier for the companies to venture into the market in New Jersey, thereby maximizing IGT's business opportunity.

This opportunity adds to the current one, already present in Nevada and Delaware, as major entertainment resorts expand their businesses to the online community. For instance, MGM Resorts (MGM) has collaborated with the world's largest publicly traded online gambling company bwin.party to venture in the industry. Jim Murren, the CEO of MGM Resorts, which owns one-third of Casinos in Las Vegas Strip is very bullish about the potential of online gaming in the U.S. He also co-owns the Borgata, one of the most successful casinos in New Jersey. Murren said that MGM Resorts is buying into online gambling because of its brands, Bellagio, MGM and Ario, which resonate with people on poker. MGM Resorts and Caesars are some of the largest Resorts & Casino companies embracing the expansion to online gambling.

However, some are opposed to the move. Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN) are against the push for the legalization of online gambling in the U.S. Currently, the odds seem to be on their side with 47 of the 50 U.S states reluctant to embrace online gambling. They all have different reasons though. For instance, the CEO of Las Vegas Sands questions the morality of online gambling. He fears that virtual casinos could lure children online and cause long-term gambling addictions.

However, as Murren puts it, "Technology exists to make sure that you know who is [betting online], whether they're of age, whether they already have addictive behavior, whether they're in a jurisdiction in which it's legal to gamble." "Our company wants to be the kind of company that regulates this, that provides safeguards for the right type of people that can gamble. I think it's a great source of tax revenue for states-and I think we should do it," says Murren.

Wynn Resorts CEO, Steve Wynn on the other hand claims that he just does not see the opportunity as claimed by his colleagues and rivals.

Some of the big casino companies may opt to take a back seat, but to some new entrants, the opportunity is massive and worth going for. For instance, new start-up SeanieMac International (OTCQB:BETS) is already gaining traction in the industry. It is one of the few pure online gambling companies traded in the U.S. While it attracts various risks common to micro-cap stocks, SeanieMac is attacking the market positively by engaging reputable partners in its quest to become a notable player in the industry.

Read More: International Game Technology Senses Fortune As More States Embrace Online Gambling - Seeking Alpha

Ever since an indication was given that the United States may be moving towards legalizing online gambling, Caesars and MGM were calling for a federal law to provide consistent rules across all states rather than a patchwork of regulations which would likely occur if individual states were allowed to set their own rules. In that scenario it could become very confusing to for the casino companies and law enforcement officials to determine what is indeed legal and what isn't. In particular, the casino companies wanted a federal regulatory framework for online poker. While casino games are generally contained to the computer they are being played on, poker games and tournaments include players scattered across many cities. And if the opportunity ever occurred where customers in different states could play at the same tables then the rules would need to be clear to all concerned and the best way to ensure that is with a uniform federal law. And make no mistake, if U.S. legalized poker is to ever maximize its full potential it would have to include cross border play. After all, the success of sites like PokerStars, Full Tilt and iPoker is the volume of customers since it guarantees full tables at all rake sizes and a plethora of tournament options. Sites that tried to branch out on their own like Betfair failed miserably due to a lack of volume and eventually joined a network.

In spite of their preference for a federal law Caesars and MGM took advantage of recently passed state laws and set up online poker sites in New Jersey and Nevada with the understanding that those sites can only take players that are intrastate. And if early indications of poker play from those states prove to be the norm, then the casinos may have reason for concern. Pokerscout.com indicated the following average number of players at any given time using the last 7 days as an indication.

In New Jersey Party/Borgata (MGM's partner) has the most number of cash players with a 7 day average of just over 200 players at any time; WSOP New Jersey (Caesar's site) is averaging just under 200 at any time; All American is averaging just over 100; and Ultimate Poker is barely existing with only 15 people playing at any given time. In Nevada WSOP is averaging just over 100 players at any given time and Ultimate Poker is averaging just under 100. Compare that to the 25,000 players PokerStars is averaging today and the close to 100,000 players they had before Black Friday and the reason for concern is obvious.

At those levels it will be difficult for any particular website to thrive but if a federal law were passed allowing for true Internet poker networks then the opportunities grow tremendously. Even just using Nevada and New Jersey, Caesars would all of a sudden have about 400 players online at any given time. If that were expanded to say WSOP.com players in California, Florida, Washington, Iowa, New York etc. then those figures would grow into the thousands making the venture far more lucrative. And almost every online poker player has told me that their biggest turn off at any poker site is going to the poker room and seeing the majority of tables showing zero players and tournaments unable to fill the minimum requirements to proceed. The obvious question, however, is whether it's too late for a federal law to legalize interstate poker. I posed that question and others to Mitch Garber, the CEO of Caesars Interactive Entertainment which owns WSOP and other Caesars online businesses and his answer in relation to state by state vs. federal regulation was quite clear.

"We live under a State by State regime in land based gaming and embrace it today as the prevailing online solution. It is our belief that it is not too late for a Federal bill given that only Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware have legalized online gaming, however we are succeeding at growing a meaningful business in Nevada and New Jersey and see momentum toward a rollout of future state by state legalization, and compacting between states which will address the issue of scalability. So, we are very happy with the rollout of the first states and we are actively working to get the same result in a number of additional states. That is our focus."

The one casino owner who remains completely opposed to online gambling in any form is the Las Vegas Sands owner Sheldon Adelson. In fact Adelson created a lobby group called the Coalition to Stop Internet Gambling and hired on former Republican George Pataki to head it, although there are Democrats on staff as well. Adelson indicated he will spend whatever it takes to succeed and suggested that online gambling only benefits Caesars and MGM. He feels the Las Vegas Sands land based casinos would suffer greatly with online gambling and he also believes that online gambling will lead to compulsive behavior and is thus morally bankrupt. Adelson's hope with his lobby group is that with the right pressure Congress will rewrite the Wire Act to make online gambling illegal in all forms and effectively negate the DoJ's position that the Wire Act only applies to sports betting. While Adelson stood alone in his position among the casino giants, it was recently reported in Forbes Magazine that Steve Wynn is siding with Adelson giving the anti-online gambling side some extra strength. While Wynn considered himself to be neutral in the area of online gambling he has since told a reporter that "this is not a good entrepreneurial opportunity." Wynn indicated that in his view the governments will be the only real winners under the current scheme and unless things change he will continue to oppose it.

Asked about his opinion of Adelson's position Garber was quite candid:

"We believe that Sheldon Adelson has taken a polarizing and hypocritical position on legalized online gaming. His arguments against legalization have no basis in fact, and we believe that we will successfully counter those arguments in whatever forum is appropr

International digital marketing agency Stickyeyes has revealed that the online visibility of a number of gambling companies has suffered due to two key algorithm updates by internet search engine Google.

In its latest online gambling and betting report, the agency said the brands that were among the most visible in 2012 lost “significant organic visibility” in Google searches last year after the search engine giant installed major updates.

The Panda and Penguin updates are aimed at penalising brands that adopt what Google deem to be aggressive or unnatural link strategies. The study said that the updates had already hit a number of gambling companies.

Online gambling operator 888 Holdings was one company that suffered, falling from being one of the most visible brands in the casino sector to as low as 17th in Stickyeyes’ index in the space of just one month.

Elsewhere, online gambling website Gambling-com fell from fifth place to outside of the top 100 in the space of just two months.

The third edition of the agency’s annual online gambling and betting report analysed more than 300 operators in five international territories.

The report also revealed that consumer expenditure in the UK online gambling sector in 2013 was set to hit £2.5 billion (€3 billion/$4.1 billion). Bookmaker William Hill remained the market leader with online net revenue growth of 18% in the first half of the year.

Online search volume for sports betting was also up 18% on the previous year while searches for casino also grew 15%. The increase in searches also led to an increase in online advertising for sports betting, with the total figure up from £4.6 million in 2009 to £10.8 million in 2012.

Elsewhere, the report said heavy regulation in the US market had resulted in an immature online search market.

However, following the decision by a number of states to legalise online gambling, more opportunities are created for international operators for them to “dominate” the US search results and capitalise on the keyword market in the country.

The report also highlighted challenges for international brands in the European market, with inconsistent regulation making it difficult for operators in a number of key regions.

However, the agency said moves by the European Commission to “harmonise” online gambling between member states could lead to a "genuine” European online gambling market and create a “thriving, competitive” search market in the sector.

“The UK online gambling sector goes from strength to strength but there is no question that the impact of Google’s Panda and Penguin updates has been catastrophic for some of the industry’s biggest brands,” Stickyeyes head of insight Phil McGuin said.

“We’re yet to see a major impact of these algorithm changes within the US search landscape, which is still a very immature market by comparison.

“However, we expect this to change dramatically as the regulatory grip on this sector loosens and it will be fascinating to see if those international brands hurt by Google in the UK and Europe have learnt the lessons as they make their move into the US.

“What our findings demonstrate is that there is still a huge opportunity for big international brands to grow across Europe and the US and a huge level of scrutiny is set to fall on lawmakers on both sides of the Atlantic.”


Gambling companies hit by Google updates | iGaming Business

In the USA there are many differing opinions on the value of online gambling and how the taxes derived from the activity can benefit the cash strapped jurisdictions versus the social problems associated with irresponsible gambling.

The American public is getting to see both sides of the coin and the elected officials are still getting up to speed with regard to making laws regulating online gambling and not upsetting the current status quo and risk not being re-elected. America also has a number of Tribal territories that have their own laws and rules regarding gambling on Native lands.

The sovereign Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians within the state of Wisconsin are cooperating with the Tribal Internet Gaming Alliance to regulate and offer online gambling conforming to the rules set up by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and other state and federal laws.

The Lac du Flambeau Band offered a play for free internet betting site just last year in the Lake of the Torches Casino and resort launching a test for possible real money action. “As online gaming legislation progresses throughout the United States, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Council recognizes the need to stay in the forefront of the potential opportunities,” a tribal spokesperson explained.

Tribal Internet Gaming Alliance delegate Jerome "Brooks" Big John said, "These intertribal relationships are important as Tribal Nations strive to become more self-sufficient and economically secure," Big John continued, "Inter-tribal business partnerships can prove to be beneficial by sharing potential risks, reducing costs and bringing together different strengths that allow for more successful businesses. Establishing Tribal partnerships to advance mutual interests is important for the wellbeing and economic security of Tribal Nations as we honor our past and re-establish this kinship through commerce.”

American Indian tribes have 460 gaming facilities in 28 states and the Alliance is growing with more than 50 tribes in 18 states have expressed interest in joining. The concept is big and the rewards may prove substantial for tribal online gambling moving forward.



US Tribes Want Legal Online Gambling | Online-Casinos-com

Miley Cyrus has stripped naked for a tell-all interview conducted by the son of Mia Farrow and, allegedly, Frank Sinatra, in the March issue of W magazine.

Wearing nothing but a short blonde wig and her eyebrows bleached, the chanteuse looks almost unrecognisable posing for the monthly fashion magazine under the caption "No Apologies, Miley Cyrus Laid Bare by Ronan Farrow".

Miley opens up about her Disney fame, social media and her unusual relationship with her parents, country singer Billy Ray and Trish Cyrus, her manager and "homie".

The singer also shares her thoughts on scandal, her bad girl image and Twitter bullies.

"I think with, like, Instagram, Twitter, whatever, everyone is a paparazzi now. How scary is that? Like, you're never safe," she told Farrow. "Even ordinary people," Cyrus says, "just think they can, like, talk about you like they know you. Especially because I grew up in it, and like you grew up in it, too, there's a sense of entitlement."

The singer also defended her controversial fashion choices, which she claims are empowering women to develop their sexuality and inner voice.

She added: "I'm trying to tell girls, like, 'F*ck that. You don't have to wear makeup. You don't have to have long blonde hair and big titties. I like that I'm associated with sexuality and the kind of punk-rock sh*t where we just don't care."

Cyrus, 21, who recently released her fourth studio album Bangerz, has no regrets about her recent antics. And there are plenty of those: from her controversial performance next to Robin Thicke at the MTV VMA awards, to smoking marijuana on stage and allegations that she mistreated her troupe of 'twerking dwarves'. But Cyrus simply doesn't "give a sh*t".

"I'm not Disney, where they have, like, an Asian girl, a black girl, and a white girl, to be politically correct, and, like, everyone has bright-colored T-shirts.

"You know, it's like, I'm not making any kind of statement. Anyone that hates on you is always below you, because they're just jealous of what you have," she added.

Miley looks unrecognisable as she poses for W Magazine wearing a short blonde wig and bleached eyebrows. Miley, who recently called off her engagement to Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth and grew up as a teen idol thanks to her Disney show Hannah Montana, revealed she is not looking forward to having children because "they're mean" and often rude.

When it comes to discussing national politics, however, Miley is rather shy. The singer admits the news give her "a little bit of anxiety" and she is not a political person but insists she wants to make a difference. Doing what exactly? Well, she's still trying to figure out that part.

However, when it comes to debating the legalisation of cannabis, Miley admits she loves "getting stoned" and would support stricter quality controls. She wants to go back "to where it's, like, organic, good weed."

Ronan Farrow, the journalist son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, recently made headlines himself after he blasted the film maker during the Golden Globes ceremony accusing him of molesting his sister, Dylan Farrow, when she was just seven years old.

"Missed the Woody Allen tribute," Ronan Farrow tweeted at the time, "Did they put the part where a woman publicly confirmed he molested her at age 7 before or after Annie Hall?

Ronan, the only biological child of Allen and Farrow, faced questions about his paternity after the actress and activist told Vanity Fair's November issue that Sinatra could "possibly" be his real father.

Farrow, who is also a television presenter for US network MSNBC, laughed off speculation saying "we are all possibly Sinatra's son".

At least 10 U.S. states are considering bills to legalize or expand Internet gambling this year, according to a group that tracks gambling-related legislation worldwide.

But the Gambling Compliance survey also finds slim chances for a national law to regulate Internet poker, predicting a major effort by online gambling opponents to block it in Congress.

So far, three states allow Internet gambling: New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware. The report says proposals for new or expanded Internet betting could be considered in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

“In 2013, 10 states considered legislation that would legalize online casino-style gambling, which was a historic high,” said Chris Krafcik, the group’s research director. “This year is shaping up to be at least as busy.”

In California, one of the largest potential markets, Indian tribes are trying to agree on how to legalize Internet poker. Tribal leaders from two coalitions met last month and said they made progress but still need more time to work out an accord. The report said a bill is likely to be acted upon before an Aug. 31 deadline.

A bill in Mississippi that would have legalized Internet gambling died Tuesday when the state legislature failed to act on it.

Gambling Compliance also says Nevada may consider expanding online gambling, which is currently limited to poker.

It predicts Delaware, where Internet gambling is off to a slow start, will seek cross-border agreements with other states to expand the pool of bettors, a tactic New Jersey also is considering. A bill awaiting consideration in the New Jersey legislature would create a new class of licensing to permit interstate and foreign bets to be taken by the Atlantic City casinos.

New Jersey’s 15 Internet gambling sites took in nearly $8.4 million between their late November launch and the end of last year. The state will release January revenue figures next week.

The report holds out little hope for a national bill legalizing Internet poker, noting that it is a midterm election year where anything politically risky is unlikely to be enacted. In fact, it said proponents and opponents of Internet gambling are jockeying for position in the U.S. Senate, which is considering a blanket prohibition on Internet gambling.

That is the goal of Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is funding a campaign to ban online gambling.

On the pro-Internet gambling side, Caesars Entertainment lobbied more heavily last year than any other group to legalize Internet gambling at the federal level, according to the report.

The report also predicted a handful of other states will consider joining Georgia, Illinois and Minnesota in permitting lottery tickets or games to be purchased or played online.



Study: 10 US states eye Internet gambling bills | KHON2

The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., is inviting fans of Philip Seymour Hoffman, a Rochester native, to help honor his legacy.

The actor died Sunday from an apparent heroin overdose.

Theatre represenatives are asking fans to submit suggestions of films they would like to see included in a tribute to Hoffman that will run from Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 2. The tribute series will feature five films showcasing Hoffman’s versatile onscreen talents. This weekend-long event will also feature special guests speaking to Hoffman’s personal impact on their lives, as well as his force in cinema. Fans may vote for their favorites through the theatre’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

On Wednesday, the theatre dedicated a moment of silence before each film shown to honor Hoffman.

Further details on the tribute series will be made available as they are decided at The Little Theatre and through Facebook and Twitter.

The George Eastman House released a statement following Hoffman’s death. It said: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our friend Philip Seymour Hoffman. He was a brilliant and irreplaceable artist who never forgot his roots in Rochester. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family during their time of grieving, and will keep Philip in our hearts always."

The gambling industry is big and with a recent report it is revealed just how big. The amounts that various counties lose to gambling are staggering and substantial. The USA is the biggest gambling market with it being the biggest loser at $119 billion in 2013. Chinese gamblers lost $76 billion and Japan which doesn’t have online gambling lost $31.4 billion in 2013.

The questions are constantly being asked as to why people spend such an inordinate amount of money on wagers. The 1.8 percent of the population that have issues with gambling seem to be the ones who lose the most. Everyone knows that casinos and lotteries are a losing bet as a rule and the odds are stacked against making money at these venues but people continue to bet and lose. According to the Economist there are a few obvious and a few not so obvious reasons why people still play.

There is always the escape factor which is entertaining and releves some stress researchers say. Gambling whether in a casino or bingo hall or card room or online venues offers a place where the excitement of winning prevails while dreaming of the big payoff. Lottery offers the low risk high reward excitement that few can resist. Many gamblers see the loses as just the cost of being entertained similar to going to a music concert or to a sporting event.

It has been studied over and over by various organizations and institutions but the problem gambler continue to be addicted to the life style as well as the rush they get when they win. Online casinos offer huge reward bonuses and give the gambler a feeling that they are somebody similar to the red carpet treatment at terrestrial casinos where free drinks and complementary hotel stays and meals are the norm. Whether its gambling online or in a casino on land knowing to play responsibly is the key to staying safe and solvent.


Online Gambling Adding to Global Wagering Stats | Online-Casinos-com

Experts are predicting 2014 will be the year online gambling goes mobile.

Canadian entrepreneur and industry expert Calvin Ayre is forecasting that gaming apps will be developed to take advantage of the growth of smartphone ownership.

It is also expected that there will be a rise in virtual payment methods such as the Bitcoin currency.

"As existing hurdles facing mobile deposits and withdrawals are lowered, gambling on the go will increasingly become the default option for bettors," explained Mr Ayre.

Technology developments will also help to drive growth of 3D gaming options and more people will be able play online casino games such as blackjack and roulette.

Last month, two Las Vegas casinos took the step of agreeing to accept Bitcoins.

The D Las Vegas Casino Hotel and the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino will be the first to take the virtual currency and shows a willingness to embrace the growing trend towards online gambling.



Thu, 02/06/2014 - 11:16 - Online gambling set to be big in 2014 | 777-com